Riverina Australia Day award winners

Scott Reardon did not become an athlete for the recognition. But in the past 12 months, the former 26-year-old Temora boy has won gold at the Rio Paralympic Games, an honour which earned him a Medal of the Order of Australia.

Elaine Armstrong also received an OAM, but said the honour was not all hers.

She accredits the award to the hundreds of women who have supported her or she has advocated for over the past 25 years in the Country Women’s Association.

While she is flattered by the personal recognition, Mrs Armstrong said this is also recognition of the organisation as a whole

Twenty years after being elected as Junee’s first female mayor, Lola Cummins has been awarded with an OAM for service to local government and to the community of Junee.

Giving someone a “fair go” is not just an Australian mantra to Sister Rosemary Terry –  it’s the way she lives her vocation.

Sister Rosemary, a member of the Society of Presentation Sisters in Wagga, has been awarded an OAM for service to the Catholic Church and to the community.

For the past 24 years she has worked as a chaplain at the Junee Correctional Centre, a place where she sees the failings of people.

But it is a place where she also sees hope.

“I think it has enriched me a great deal,” Sister Rosemary said of her chaplaincy experience.

From volunteers to businessmen and sports stars to administrators, the passion of Riverina communities has been put on show in the annual local awards ceremonies.

Take a look at the interactive map for an ongoing list, updated as the day goes on, and flip through to read more about the winners.